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EDITORS’ NOTES

The positive message running through The Afters’ Life Is Beautiful is tempered by the knowledge that suffering often walks hand in hand with sorrow. The Texas-bred Christian band’s fourth album is rooted in its members’ recent personal struggles, including the death of their longtime manager and a near-fatal car wreck involving lead singer Josh Havens and his family. As on previous releases, The Afters frame serious themes in buoyant musical settings that mix breezy melodies with propulsive rhythms and electronica embellishment. Tracks like “Love Is in the Air” and “Every Good Thing” celebrate the band’s collective faith with body-grabbing beats and shout-along vocals. The title track (heard in the film October Baby) acknowledges heartache while expressing gratitude for life's ordinary joys. Beneath the album’s soaring hosannas is an unshakable spiritual resolve, evident in the redemptive imagery of “Broken Hallelujah” and “Believe (Waiting for an Answer).” “In My Eyes” is a particular high point. Throughout, The Afters display the sleek pop/rock tunefulness that's earned them a loyal following among Christian and mainstream pop/rock fans alike.

Life Is Beautiful

EDITORS’ NOTES

The positive message running through The Afters’ Life Is Beautiful is tempered by the knowledge that suffering often walks hand in hand with sorrow. The Texas-bred Christian band’s fourth album is rooted in its members’ recent personal struggles, including the death of their longtime manager and a near-fatal car wreck involving lead singer Josh Havens and his family. As on previous releases, The Afters frame serious themes in buoyant musical settings that mix breezy melodies with propulsive rhythms and electronica embellishment. Tracks like “Love Is in the Air” and “Every Good Thing” celebrate the band’s collective faith with body-grabbing beats and shout-along vocals. The title track (heard in the film October Baby) acknowledges heartache while expressing gratitude for life's ordinary joys. Beneath the album’s soaring hosannas is an unshakable spiritual resolve, evident in the redemptive imagery of “Broken Hallelujah” and “Believe (Waiting for an Answer).” “In My Eyes” is a particular high point. Throughout, The Afters display the sleek pop/rock tunefulness that's earned them a loyal following among Christian and mainstream pop/rock fans alike.

TITLE

TIME

Every Good Thing

3:46

Breathe In Breathe Out

3:06

Broken Hallelujah

4:31

Moments Like This

3:59

Find Your Way

4:10

Life Is Beautiful

3:51

Love Is In the Air

4:13

Believe (Waiting for an Answer)

3:27

What We're Here For

3:36

With You Always

4:10

In My Eyes

4:38

This Life

4:20

Life Is Beautiful

4:00

13 Songs

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About The Afters

Formed in 2000 by four Starbucks employees in Mesquite, TX, the Afters are an alternative CCM rock outfit originally known as Blisse. Under their original moniker, members Marc Dodd (drums), Matt Fuqua (guitar and vocals), Josh Havens (vocals and guitar), and Brad Wigg (bass and vocals) released an EP and an album (2001's When the World Is Wonderful) before finding out that there was another Blisse out there, and subsequently changed their name to the Afters. After making a name for themselves in the Dallas music scene, the Afters scored a deal with Epic and released their major-label debut in 2005, entitled I Wish We All Could Win. The album was a hit on the Christian charts, making it to the Top 25. In 2006, the band went back into the studio to record its follow-up, Never Going Back to OK, which was slated for release in February of 2008. ~ Chris True